U.S. patent number 10,676,972 [Application Number 15/906,027] was granted by the patent office on 2020-06-09 for latch insert and spacers for slider window assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to TAYLOR MADE GROUP, LLC. The grantee listed for this patent is Taylor Made Group, LLC. Invention is credited to Andrew Knepper, Mark Preuss.
United States Patent |
10,676,972 |
Preuss , et al. |
June 9, 2020 |
Latch insert and spacers for slider window assembly
Abstract
A trim assembly securable in a window frame includes a track on
which a sliding window is supportable, a latch insert including a
plurality of latch openings, and a latch mechanism securable to the
sliding window adjacent the latch insert. The latch mechanism is
displaceable between an extended position and a retracted position
and includes a lever connected with a latch tab. In the extended
position, the latch tab is positioned in a selected one of the
latch openings. The latch mechanism is biased toward the extended
position. The spacing of the latch openings provides for
essentially infinite open/close positions.
Inventors: |
Preuss; Mark (Angola, IN),
Knepper; Andrew (Fort Wayne, IN) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Taylor Made Group, LLC |
Gloversville |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
TAYLOR MADE GROUP, LLC
(Gloversville, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
67685044 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/906,027 |
Filed: |
February 27, 2018 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20190264478 A1 |
Aug 29, 2019 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05C
1/004 (20130101); E06B 3/4609 (20130101); E05C
1/06 (20130101); E05C 17/62 (20130101); E05D
15/06 (20130101); B60J 1/16 (20130101); E05C
17/48 (20130101); E05Y 2600/45 (20130101); E05Y
2800/176 (20130101); E05D 15/066 (20130101); E05Y
2201/218 (20130101); E05Y 2900/55 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E05B
65/04 (20060101); E05D 15/06 (20060101); E05C
1/06 (20060101); E05C 17/48 (20060101); E06B
3/46 (20060101); E05C 1/00 (20060101); E05C
17/62 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;49/63,450 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Redman; Jerry E
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A window assembly comprising: a trim member securable in a
window frame, the trim member including a track; a latch insert
connected to the trim member and including a plurality of latch
openings; a sliding window coupled with the trim member and mounted
for slidable displacement on the track; and a latch mechanism
secured to the sliding window adjacent the latch insert, the latch
mechanism being displaceable between an extended position and a
retracted position and including a lever connected with a latch
tab, wherein in the extended position, the latch tab is positioned
in a selected one of the latch openings, and wherein the latch
mechanism is biased toward the extended position, wherein the trim
member comprises at least one latch insert opening, wherein the
latch insert comprises a connecting member on an underside thereof
that is disposed in the latch insert opening, and wherein the
connecting member comprises a connector tab and at least one spring
latch, the latch insert being connected to the latch insert opening
in a snap fit via the spring latch.
2. A window assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connector
tab is an integral connector tab, and wherein the at least one
spring latch is an integral spring latch.
3. A window assembly according to claim 2, wherein the trim member
comprises a plurality of latch insert openings along a length
thereof, and wherein the window assembly comprises a corresponding
plurality of latch inserts secured end to end in the latch insert
openings.
4. A window assembly according to claim 1, wherein the trim member
comprises a plurality of the latch insert openings along a length
thereof, and wherein the window assembly comprises a corresponding
plurality of the latch inserts secured end to end in the latch
insert openings.
5. A window assembly according to claim 1, wherein the latch
openings are spaced less than 0.5'' apart.
6. A window assembly according to claim 1, wherein the trim member
comprises a second track.
7. A trim assembly securable in a window frame, the trim assembly
comprising: a track on which a sliding window is supportable, the
track including a tab opening; a latch insert including a plurality
of latch openings on one side thereof and a connector tab on an
opposite side thereof, wherein the connector tab is engageable in
the tab opening in a snap fit; and a latch mechanism securable to
the sliding window adjacent the latch insert, the latch mechanism
being displaceable between an extended position and a retracted
position and including a lever connected with a latch tab, wherein
in the extended position, the latch tab is positioned in a selected
one of the latch openings, and wherein the latch mechanism is
biased toward the extended position, wherein the connecting member
comprises at least one spring latch, the latch insert being
connected to the latch insert opening in the snap fit via the
spring latch.
8. A trim assembly according to claim 7, wherein the connector tab
is an integral connector tab, and wherein the at least one spring
latch is an integral spring latch.
9. A trim assembly according to claim 8, comprising a plurality of
latch insert openings along a length thereof and a corresponding
plurality of latch inserts secured end to end in the latch insert
openings.
10. A trim assembly according to claim 7, comprising a plurality of
latch insert openings along a length thereof and a corresponding
plurality of latch inserts secured end to end in the latch insert
openings.
11. A trim assembly according to claim 7, further comprising a
second track.
12. A window assembly comprising: a trim member securable in a
window frame, the trim member including a track and a plurality of
latch insert openings along a length thereof; a plurality of latch
inserts connected end to end in the latch insert openings and
including a plurality of latch openings, wherein each of the latch
inserts comprises a connecting member on an underside thereof that
is secured in a respective one of the latch insert openings,
wherein the connecting member comprises an integral connector tab
and at least one integral spring latch, the latch inserts being
connected to respective ones of the latch insert openings in a snap
fit via the integral spring latch; a sliding window coupled with
the trim member and mounted for slidable displacement on the track;
and a latch mechanism secured to the sliding window adjacent the
latch inserts, the latch mechanism being displaceable between an
extended position and a retracted position and including a lever
connected with a latch tab, wherein in the extended position, the
latch tab is positioned in a selected one of the latch openings,
and wherein the latch mechanism is biased toward the extended
position.
13. A window assembly according to claim 12, wherein the latch
openings are spaced less than 0.5'' apart.
14. A window assembly according to claim 12, wherein the trim
member comprises a second track.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
(Not Applicable)
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
(Not Applicable)
BACKGROUND
The invention relates to a sliding window assembly and, more
particularly, to a sliding window assembly with an infinite
position latch insert and top positioned spacers for preventing
jams during opening and closing of the sliding window.
Existing sliding window assemblies typically include discrete
limited latch positions such that the sliding window is latched at
either a fully open position or a fully closed position with
possibly a few interim latch positions. Additionally, depending on
the position of the latch mechanism and the size of the window, it
is not uncommon for a sliding window to rotate slightly during
opening and closing of the window, which can cause the window to
jam.
It would thus be desirable to provide a window assembly including a
latch mechanism with infinite open/close positions. Additionally,
it would be desirable to prevent the window from rotating during
opening/closing to avoid the window becoming jammed.
BRIEF SUMMARY
A trim member is securable in a window frame and includes a track
on which a sliding window is supportable. In some embodiments, the
trim member includes openings for receiving one or more latch
inserts that are cooperable with a latch mechanism secured to the
window. A spacer may also be provided to prevent the window from
rotating and thereby prevent a jam in the track.
In an exemplary embodiment, a window assembly includes a trim
member with a track and securable in a window frame, a latch insert
connected to the trim member and including a plurality of latch
openings, a sliding window coupled with the trim member and mounted
for slidable displacement on the track, and a latch mechanism
secured to the sliding window adjacent the latch insert. The latch
mechanism is displaceable between an extended position and a
retracted position and includes a lever connected with a latch tab.
In the extended position, the latch tab is positioned in a selected
one of the latch openings, and the latch mechanism is biased toward
the extended position.
The trim member may include at least one latch insert opening, and
the latch insert may include a connecting member on an underside
thereof that is disposed in the latch insert opening. The
connecting member may include an integral connector tab and at
least one integral spring latch, where the latch insert may be
connected to the latch insert opening in a snap fit via the
integral spring latch. The trim member may include a plurality of
latch insert openings along a length thereof, and the window
assembly may include a corresponding plurality of latch inserts
secured end to end in the latch insert openings.
The latch openings may be spaced less than 0.5'' apart. In some
embodiments, the trim member may include a second track.
In another exemplary embodiment, a trim assembly securable in a
window frame includes a track on which a sliding window is
supportable, a latch insert including a plurality of latch
openings, and a latch mechanism securable to the sliding window
adjacent the latch insert and displaceable between the extended
position and the retracted position. The latch mechanism similarly
includes a lever connected with a latch tab, and in the extended
position, the latch tab is positioned in a selected one of the
latch openings. As above, the latch mechanism is biased toward the
extended position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other aspects and advantages will be described in detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary dual slider window;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a latch insert;
FIG. 3 shows the assembled trim member; and
FIG. 4 is a sectional perspective view of the window assembly
through IV-IV in FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The window/trim assembly of the described embodiments is shown with
an exemplary application to a dual slider window. Those of ordinary
skill in the art will appreciate alternative applications of the
described assembly, and the invention is not meant to be limited to
the illustrated example.
FIG. 1 shows a dual slider window 10 including a first sliding
window 12 with a latch mechanism 14 and a second sliding window 16
with a latch mechanism 14. With reference to FIGS. 2-4, the latch
mechanism includes a latch insert 18 that is cooperable with a trim
member 19 including a track 20 on which the sliding window 12 is
slidably mounted. In some embodiments, the trim member 19 includes
a second track 21 for the second sliding window 16. The latch 18
includes a plurality of latch openings 22 on an upward facing
surface. The openings 22 are spaced in small increments such that
the sliding windows are essentially infinitely adjustable. That is,
even though the opening is technically incrementally adjustable in
each of the openings 22, because the openings 22 are spaced in very
small increments, the opening position of the sliding windows 12,
16 is essentially infinitely adjustable. For example, the openings
may be spaced less than 0.5 inches apart, or less than 0.25 inches
apart, or less than 0.1 inches apart. In a preferred construction,
the openings are spaced about 0.25 inches apart.
The latch mechanism 24 is conventional and includes a lever 26 that
selectively retracts a latch tab 28. The lever 26 and latch tab 28
are typically biased toward an extended or locked position by a
spring or the like where the latch tab 28 is disposed in one of the
openings 22 in the latch insert 18. In this configuration, the
sliding windows 12, 16 are locked in position. When the lever 26 is
displaced to retract the latch tab 28 from the openings 22, the
windows 12, 16 are freely slidable on the track 20.
With reference to FIG. 2, the latch insert 18 includes a connecting
member 30 on an underside thereof. The connecting member 30 may be
configured in any suitable manner to secure the latch insert 18 to
the track 20. In an exemplary construction, the connector 30
includes a connector tab 32 surrounded on at least one lateral side
thereof, preferably two opposite lateral sides as shown, with
spring latches 34. The spring latches 34 may be connected via a
living hinge or the like. The tab 32 and spring latches 34 are
sized to fit in corresponding openings 36 formed in the track 20.
The latch inserts 18 are secured in the track 20 by inserting the
tab 32 and spring latches 34 through the openings 36 in the track
until the spring latches 34 snap lock in place. That is, the spring
latches 34 may include a shoulder adjacent top ends thereof such
that as the latch insert 18 is pressed into the opening 36, the
sides of the opening 36 deflect the spring latches inward. Once the
latch insert 18 is pressed into the opening 36 to the shoulders,
the spring latches 34 snap outward to engage the opening 36.
Preferably, the trim member 19 and track 20 are extruded, and the
openings 36 are machined in the extruded member. The number of
openings 36 is dependent on the width and sliding range of the
window. That is, the latch inserts 18 can be secured end-to-end
along the track 20 in several openings 36 so that a large sliding
window can be accommodated.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is
presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be
limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *